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Eurotunnel to Amsterdam by car: route, cost and time
Driving from the UK to Amsterdam via the Eurotunnel is easier than it looks. The LeShuttle train carries your car to Calais in 35 minutes, then it is about 4 hours through Belgium into the Netherlands, roughly 6 hours 30 minutes door to door.
The tunnel gets your car across the Channel quickly, and from Calais it is a straightforward motorway run north through Ghent and Antwerp into the Netherlands. There are no motorway tolls in Belgium or the Netherlands, so the main costs are the crossing and fuel.
Book your Channel Tunnel crossing
Your first leg is the LeShuttle crossing from Folkestone to Calais. Use the price checker below to compare live Eurotunnel and ferry fares for your dates and book your crossing.
How do you get to Amsterdam with the Eurotunnel?
The Eurotunnel car train does not go to Amsterdam. LeShuttle carries your car under the Channel from Folkestone to Calais only, a 35-minute crossing. From Calais you drive about 350 km north on the motorway, via the E40 through Ghent and Antwerp and up into the Netherlands. If you would rather not drive, Eurostar runs direct from London to Amsterdam.
The UK to Amsterdam route, stage by stage
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| London → Folkestone | about 1h 30m via the M20 |
| Check-in & border control | about 60 minutes at the terminal |
| Folkestone → Calais (tunnel) | 35 minutes on LeShuttle |
| Calais → Amsterdam | about 4 hours (~350 km) via Ghent and Antwerp |
| Total, door to door | about 6 hours 30 minutes |
How much does it cost to drive to Amsterdam?
The good news for this route is that there are no motorway tolls in Belgium or the Netherlands, so the main costs are the crossing and fuel.
| Cost | Approximate |
|---|---|
| LeShuttle crossing (car) | from £69 |
| Motorway tolls (Belgium and Netherlands) | none |
| Fuel, Calais → Amsterdam (~350 km) | varies by vehicle |
The crossing is from around £69 for a short-stay return, but peak and last-minute bookings are often £120 or more, so book early. See our tickets and prices and cheap tickets pages.
How long does it take to drive to Amsterdam?
About 6 hours 30 minutes door to door: roughly 1h 30m to Folkestone, an hour at the terminal, the 35-minute crossing, and about 4 hours from Calais to Amsterdam. The Calais to Amsterdam leg depends most on traffic around Antwerp and the Dutch cities. Check the timetable for departures, with up to four an hour at peak times.
The driving route from Calais to Amsterdam
The route is all motorway and easy to follow.
- Join the A16 from the Calais terminal.
- Follow the E40 eastbound through Ghent.
- Continue towards Antwerp, then take the A16 and A4 north across the Dutch border.
- Pass Rotterdam and Den Haag, and follow the signs into Amsterdam.
Parking in Amsterdam: use Park and Ride
Parking in central Amsterdam is expensive and stressful. The easy answer is a Park and Ride (P+R) site on the edge of the city: leave the car at a low daily rate and continue in by metro or tram.
- P+R Johan Cruijff ArenA, to the southeast, near the stadium and a direct metro into the centre.
- P+R RAI, to the south, handy for the exhibition centre and the tram.
Is the ferry or Eurotunnel cheaper to the Netherlands?
The tunnel is the fastest way across, but a ferry can be cheaper on some dates. You can cross Dover to Calais or Dunkirk and drive the same route through Belgium, or take an overnight ferry straight to the Netherlands, such as Hull to Rotterdam or Harwich to Hook of Holland, which is longer overall but drops you closer to Amsterdam. Compare the options in our Channel Tunnel or ferry guide.
Prefer to travel without a car? Take Eurostar
Eurostar runs direct from London St Pancras to Amsterdam Centraal in about 3 hours 52 minutes, arriving right in the city centre. It is the fastest option if you do not need a car. See our Eurostar guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take the Eurotunnel to Amsterdam?
Not directly. LeShuttle runs Folkestone to Calais only, and from Calais it is about a 4-hour drive through Belgium into the Netherlands. For a direct train, Eurostar runs London to Amsterdam.
How much does it cost to drive to Amsterdam from the UK?
The LeShuttle crossing starts from around £69 per car, more at peak or last-minute. There are no motorway tolls in Belgium or the Netherlands, so budget mainly for fuel over the 350 km drive.
How long does it take to drive from the UK to Amsterdam?
About 6 hours 30 minutes door to door: roughly 1h 30m to Folkestone, an hour at the terminal, a 35-minute crossing, and about 4 hours from Calais to Amsterdam.
How far is Calais to Amsterdam by car?
About 350 km, roughly 4 hours via the E40 through Ghent and Antwerp and up into the Netherlands.
Where should I park in Amsterdam?
Use a Park and Ride site such as Johan Cruijff ArenA or RAI at a low daily rate, then continue by metro or tram. It is cheaper and far less stressful than driving into the centre.
Do I need anything special to drive in Belgium and the Netherlands?
You drive on the right, and both Antwerp and Amsterdam have low-emission zones that may affect older vehicles, so check before you travel. There are no motorway tolls.
Driving to Amsterdam through the Channel Tunnel is quick and toll-free once you are across: cross to Calais in 35 minutes on LeShuttle, then follow the E40 through Ghent and Antwerp for about 4 hours into the Netherlands, roughly 6 hours 30 minutes door to door. Watch the low-emission zones, park at a Park and Ride, and use the price checker above to compare fares and book your crossing.